The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-09
THE MYSTERIOUS DOG.
Whence Did He Come, and Where
Did He Coz

O4O no 1O
81 have no story of ghost or witch.
no tale of uncanny horrors to relate"
said old DIR. Gray. in a pause of the
conversation to which he had been an
intent listener. The wild winds with
out, the sweeping of the gale across the
lake beyond the harbor, and the grue-
some night had suggested tales of
supernatural order, and each had added
his mite of experience. But" con-
iinued the doctor, 81 am reminded of a
singular incident that happened during
The second year of my practice-one
that l regarded at the time as warm
Ing of something that was coming into
any life; but as time glided smoothly by
and nothing came of it, 1 ceased to
think of the matter.
"As you all know, located in the
beginning in the thrifty village of
Haven. overlooking the Mohawk. A
busy little town it was in those days.
The railroad magnates had placed
their round-houses there, giving us
the finest eating house on the line. and
caused all the noontime and early even
ing trains to stop there for hot meals.
The farmers used it for a market place,
bringing their cheese and butter there;
they sold them to the dealers who
came up from the large towns on the
Hudson and below. Through the sum-
mcr weather the farmers wives drove
their sleepy nags along the dusty coun-
try reads. with great baskets of eggs,
potSof butter, the clearest of honey, and
the purest of maple syrup, to sell at
the depot or village stores. Every
thing seemed prosperous, everybody
was busy. l soon gathered an excel
lent practice; not so much due to my
own merit. perhaps, as to the fact that
providence, or fate. seemed to will it so.
when hung out my sign before a
modest Office on Main street, there were
two physicians in town; one the old
doctor, the other a young man who died
of consumption about six mo tbs after.
That same fall the old doctor, driving
a fractions horse over the frozen
ground, was thrown from his sulky,
and picked up at the breaking of the
gray winters day by working-men 60
ing to their days labor. He lowered
between life and death for weeks, and
not until June, with its soft, bland air
was come did he appear on the village
streets. The Intervening time was one
of unusual sickness. and everybody
was, in a measure, compelled to try
r the new doctor. tried to attend to it,
and what they did first from necessity
they afterwards did from choice, and
almost every family was mine before
the six months were ended. Yet / was
not content, for like Alexander of old.
sighed for other worlds to conquer.
.'Some five miles from the village
lived Farmer Miles on one of the finest
farms in the town. He inherited it
and the grand old homestead frcm his
father, and beside his owa immediate
family, which was large. three sisters
and two brothers owned legacies in the
farm and homes in the mansion as long
as they desired to claim them. More
than this. some eight or ten families OF
relatives in that vicinity had a fashion
If founding their faith in politics. re-
iigion and physics upon that of Farmer
Lilies. The way he voted was the way
they voted, the church that he attended
they also attended, and sooner or later
the doctor he employed was the one
that they would employ. Therefore to
secure the practice of the farmer meant
.long list of new names on the columns
If my day book with pay galore-and
this was the world longed to conquer.
ut was the second winter of my
practice, well on toward spring. when
reaching home at late dinner hour
lound summons awaiting me to go at
,nce to Farmer Miles. Taking a mo
ment to snatch hurried dinner l WAS
Of. The first mile of my way led up
the river through the long main street
of the town. The lamp-lighter was
Just lighting his lamps. The gayly
dressed people. the clamor of bells.
and lights flashing from shop windows
made the scene bright one. Turning
from the thoroughfare my route led
over the hills at the north through a
thickly settled farming country. Here
and there as l passed by, saw a be-
lated farmer doing his chores. raking
down the hay for his horses. fastening
the cows in their staunchions, locking
the great barn doors, and making all
things snug for winters night
my directions had been: Drive on
:the Pennington turnpike to the great
red gate, then turn to the left Reach
ing this point, where once had been a
toll-gate, turned into a narrow.
drifted and lonely road. a country Lana
xhere the SHOWS had been piled from